IKEA Hacks and Mods

Made from 12 $4.99 Lampan Lamps

First of all, I apologize for not blogging in a very, very long time! However, I bring you very cool stuff this time. While scouring the internet for methods of cheaply decorating my apartment (without it looking like all the IKEA catalogue clones in NYC) I came across an interesting idea. IKEA “hacks” basically take IKEA’s stuff and modify it to make better stuff. For example, this Lampan lamp made from 12 of the little guys, making a glorious dodecahedron (but 3D) of light! There are many other hacks just like this, which require a simple trip to your local IKEA and some time. More details after the fold!

Flexible Love

Flexible Love by Chishen Chiu

Flexible Love is a piece of experiment furniture designed by Chishen Chiu, a talented young designer based out of Taiwan.  Essentially, it is a “Flexible Loveseat,” made entirely out of recyclable paper and wood products, using pre-existing methods of production to be as environmentally friendly as possible.  It is an amazing, accordion-like piece of furniture that is mind-blowing when you first see it.  It comes in 4 different flavors, a 16 seater, a 12 seater, an 8 seater and a miniature version to impress your friends without breaking the bank.  Incredible video demonstrating the fluid and organic nature of the piece and where you can buy it after the fold.

Past, Present, Future

A detailed flowchart

Apologies for not updating regularly. From now on, I will endeavor to update as daily as possible (and once I get into a rhythm, the posts will pop up at around the same time). That being said, I would love to hear specific input from you readers about what content you like, what you think is mediocre and bad, etc. I would like this blog to be interactive rather than simply me posting things that I arbitrarily think are cool, so please, tell me what you’d like to see in the future, or even submit ideas to me about future posts. Many thanks.

Tsovet Watches

Tsovet SVT-CS79 ($385)

So my holy grail of watches is probably a Panerai Luminor Marina, but until I have a few grand burning a hole in my pocket, I won’t have one around my wrist.  What I like about Panerai is the design inspiration drawn from old U-Boat watches.  So you can imagine my delight when I ran across these Tsovet watches which have all the maritime nods without the pricetag.  Tsovet was started by David Bonaventura, who also founded Vestal.  Vestal is nothing special to me, pretty much like a rehashed Nixon, but it seems that Bonaventura got something right when he did Tsovet.  While it still feels a bit contrived, I can’t deny the aesthetics of the watches.  More pictures and where to order after the fold.

LampLamp by Hironao Tsuboi

LampLamp ($28)

With a simple twist, Hironao Tsuboi has transformed the standard incandescent lightbulb from something best covered up into a naked beauty.  The appropriately named LampLamp looks like just a regular lightbulb, but is somehow lit while the clearly visible threading is not screwed into any power source.  The mystery persists until you realize that there are actually two sets of connecting threads.  Clear pictures of how it works and where you can buy it after the fold.

Cubix Lamp by Catherine Mui

Cubix Lamp $75

More interior lighting goodness.  This lamp is designed by Catherine Mui and consists of oakwood frames connected through a spine but able to rotate freely from each other along that axis.  Depending on how much light you want, you can spread out the frames or line them up.  Perfect for lighting up a small area, ambient lighting or just a conversation piece.  Another view and where to buy after the fold.

Block Lamp by Harri Koskinen

Block Lamp ($120)

I’ve been interested in interior lighting lately, and there are some really awesome (albeit expensive) ways to brighten up a room.  Consistently a best seller in the MOMA store, the Block Lamp, designed by Harri Koskinen, certainly fits the bill.  Inspired by industrial glass bricks, the lamp is very simply a naked bulb encased in two hand cast blocks of glass.  It won’t fill the room with sunlight (it only accomodates a 25-watt candelabra bulb which isn’t included), but it will definitely set the mood.  I think my favorite part of the lamp is the cord, covered in woven red shielding to prevent damage to it and will certainly stand out from all the other cables cluttering up your room (also comes in white and black).  More pictures and a link to purchase after the fold.

iPod Speaker: The Phonofone II

Not for the light of wallet.

Modeled after the gramophone and designed by Tristan Zimmerman, Science & Sons has released a speaker that doesn’t require batteries or a power cord.  It is made entirely out of ceramic and works by passively amplifying the audio from your portable music device’s headphones to volumes up to 55 decibels (which is the equivalent of a normal conversation).  Probably the most elegantly designed iPod speaker I’ve seen, but the price makes the Phonofone II prohibitive.  There is a black version as well, but it is limited to 200 pieces and will run you $600.  White, on the other hand, will only cost you $500.  Time to pawn off your kidney.  More pictures, including the limited black version and a diagram of how it works, as well as where you can burn your money, after the fold.

Watch Movement Cufflinks

Steampunk Meets Class

Unique cufflinks are one of my weakspots, and I’m continually on the hunt for them.  I saw these in a small store in San Francisco called Karikter (carried lots of Tin Tin merchandise) and they caught my eye.  Each cufflink is the exposed movement assembly of a vintage Bulova watch.  Never thought I’d be able to work steampunk into my wardrobe, but this looks like the first foray.  More pictures and info where to buy after the fold.

Martin Margiela Dollar Wallet

More than meets the eye

Yes, yes.  I’m late blogging about this, I know.  But ever since I saw this wallet a few months ago, I’ve been enamored by it’s design.  It’s from Maison Martin Margiela’s Line 11 (accesories) and is a bi-fold leather wallet disguised as a wad of cash.  Too bad they’re all sold out (and at a hefty $395 price point I might add).  More pics after the fold.